812 Winter/Spring 2016

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Indiana’s forgotten governor

Banjos, mandolins and dulcimers oh my!

Bloomington’s world-class triathlete

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

26 A Century Outdoors

As Indiana’s state parks celebrate their centennial, 812 brings you an insider’s guide to our greatest natural resource.

FEATURES Where our parks began.

Bagel shop owner Sue Aquila competes in world-class triathlons. Story by Arriel Vinson

Spring Mill

19 Lessons of lutherie

28 McCormick’s Creek 33

13 The bread winner

History comes to life.

812 instrument makers share the secrets behind their craft. Story by Meghan Little and Andrea Crowley

38 Clifty Falls

What I’ve Learned

7

Charles Moman, Indiana musical composer

Taste of Southern Indiana

9

You say tomato, I say tomato juice

Get Out of Town

A land frozen in time.

11 Views to dine for

42 Brown County

THE 812 LIST

Nature at its peak.

50 What we’re reading

PLUS:

32 First aid 37 Which park are you? 41 Outdoor etiquette 45 If you like . . .

DEPARTMENTS

46 )RUJRWWHQ Ă€UHEUDQG 7ZR KXQGUHG \HDUV DJR ,QGLDQD¡V Ă€UVW governor, Jonathan Jennings, shaped our state’s constitution. Story by Holly Dodds

On the cover: Brent Estes and Sarah NealEstes relax with sons Max and Jude at an Abe Martin Lodge family cabin. /Photo by Haley Ward. Special thanks to Malinda Aston, Steve Layton, Allen Major, Greg Menkedick, Roger Hartwell and Laura Pence for their assistance in the publication of 812: The Magazine of Southern Indiana.

3 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

812 MAGAZINE STAFF

Editor’s note

I

’ve always been a Michigan girl. I was raised in a city with as many lakes as it had potholes, and they were all about the same size. The winters are harsh and the summers are short, and the only colors on school mascots are blue and gold. But I’ve spent the past two and a half years building a home in Southern Indiana, and it’s a welcome change of scenery. ,·YH FRPH WR ORYH WKH ÁRZHULQJ springtime trees and strangely hospitable natives. In creating this issue of 812 Magazine, I’ve found even more to admire. Together, we’ve explored the craftsmanship behind beloved musical instruments, a forgotten founder of Indiana, a bustling bagel business and some of the most beautiful state parks in the country. I’ve learned so much about my new home and the people who live here. I hope this issue can pass some of that knowledge on to you, even if you were born and raised in the 812 region.

812: THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN INDIANA Winter/Spring 2016 Volume 5, Number 1 812 was conceived, reported, written, photographed, edited and designed by students in J481: Creating an Indiana Magazine at the Indiana University Media School. Contents may not be reproduced without the written consent of the school. <RX FDQ DOVR ÀQG H[FOXVLYH RQOLQH VWRULHV DW our website, 812magazine.com. If you’re interested in advertising in 812, or if you’d like copies to distribute at your place of business, please contact ads@idsnews.com.

FOLLOW US: @812Magazine

YOUR LIFE YOUR STYLE YOUR STORE

BLOOMINGTON

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2664 E. Second St. (Former location of Different Drummer)

• 812-345-2689 • Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

OUR 812 STAFF

Haley Church

Mercer T. Suppiger

Paige Hutson

Managing Editor Born and bred in the 812 region, Haley enjoys corn, trees and all things free.

Art Director 0HUFHU KRSHV \RX ÀQG WKLV issue both exciting and informative.

Art Director Paige found solace in the beautiful scenery of Spring Mill State Park.

Kaitlyn McMahon Social Media Editor Kaitlyn took her Chicago WDVWH EXGV VRXWK WR ÀQG menus with a view.

Courtney Veneri

Holly Dodds

Andrea Crowley

Danielle Flum

Social Media Editor Courtney loves hiking, which inspired her to visit Brown County State Park.

Online Editor A senior, Holly shares her love of history with a look DW RXU ÀUVW JRYHUQRU

Online Editor

Departments Editor A senior from Florida, Danielle traded the beach for a state park cave.

Kennedy Coopwood

Nicole Krasean

Departments Editor Kennedy, a junior, relishes style and was inspired to write a story about it.

Staff Writer Nicole searched for the best donut shops and found a new favorite.

Arriel Vinson Staff Writer Arriel explored her love for food and business in KHU SURÀOH RI 6XH $TXLOD

Originally from Boston, Andrea visited studios to learn about lutherie.

Meghan Little Staff Writer A music minor, Meghan met the region’s stringed instrument makers.

Nancy Comiskey

TJ Jaeger Staff Writer A senior, TJ set off to Clifty Falls to learn about its history and landscape.

5

Instructor A hiker who loves our state parks, Nancy now has new places to visit.

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

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WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Charles Moman, composer This Seymour singer-songwriter helps bring history alive.

Charles Moman performs “What Is a Hoosier� at Eleutherian College near Madison. /Photo courtesy of Charles Moman

By TJ Jaeger

I

t’s hard for Charles Moman to relax. With 37 years as an elementary school music teacher and his impressive portfolio of composed and performed musicals, the 64-year-old Seymour singer keeps himself busy. Moman is perhaps best known for his educational musical, “Indiana, That’s Where I Belong,� which is performed annually in hundreds of elementary schools across the state. So, what’s his secret for bringing Indiana’s history alive?

I really liked the rap,� and then they say, “I didn’t know that about Lincoln.� When I visit a school, 4th-grade teachers would say, “Your songs really do teach stuff.�

0\ VWXGHQWV KHOSHG PH NQRZ P\ DXGLHQFH I’m very fortunate because there are people who write children’s shows who don’t have access to kids. I knew quickly if a song didn’t work with them. I had songs I tried with my students, and they were like, “Really? You can do better than that.� It grounded me.

VKRZ LW¡V JRLQJ WR EH ´:KHUH GR , Ă€W LQ the place of history, and what can I do to contribute to Indiana?â€?

6XFFHVV IHHGV RQ VXFFHVV Once I did that Indiana show, it made me want to write more songs. It makes you feel like, “Oh, I am a songwriter.â€? Even though I’ve written a lot of songs in the SDVW , VRUW RI IHOW OLNH D GXIIHU :KHQ , Ă€Qished that show, and people responded to it, I felt like I could comfortably call myself a songwriter without feeling pretentious.

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<RX KDYH WR NHHS \RXUVHOI 7KH DXGLHQFH ORYHV JHWWLQJ PRWLYDWHG As a teacher, it always irritated me LQYROYHG

,Q WKH ¡ V , VWDUWHG D Ă€OPVWULS FRPSDQ\ DQG , Ă€OPHG DOO WKH KLVWRULF VLWHV so I really got deep into Indiana history. This led me to wanting to write a show. I probably came up with 40 song titles. I always hear parents say, “I loved the songs.

I have a song called, “We’re All a Part of History.� It’s about how you can contribute to Indiana and how everyday people are contributing. Each of us has a part to play, so what part are you going to play in the future of Indiana? Towards the end of the

when you had somebody heading towards their retirement and coasting. I’m going to wear out, not rust out. Life is just too short. I’m a Christian with my worldview. I think we should do stuff to bless other people.

7 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

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TASTE OF SOUTHERN INDIANA

You say tomato, I say tomato juice <RX FDQ ÀQG WKH URRWV RI RXU IDYRULWH ]HVW\ EUHDNIDVW GULQN LQ )UHQFK /LFN By Holly Dodds

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ith all the excitement around the state’s bicentennial, we might overlook another important anniversary right around the corner. Ninety-nine years ago, Chef Louis Perrin ran out of oranges for juice at the French Lick Springs Hotel. In a stroke of genius, he tried tomatoes instead. The rest, they say, is history. Thomas O’Connor, the food and beverage manager at the French Lick Resort, says the restaurant still serves its specialty tomato juice. “We use bourbon-smoked salt and black cracked pepper, put it on a grinder and grate it over the top of each glass,” he says. “The guests really love it and ask for it in their Bloody Mary’s in the mornings. It’s a really cherished ÁDYRU µ But tomato juice can also be used for a lot of other things, like creating a zesty salad dressing or shrinking skin pores.

A spicy Bloody Mary is a favorite drink for brunches. /Photo by Holly Dodds

A juice smackdown We pitted one cup of tomato juice against one cup of orange juice in a nutritional face-off. The winner in each category was awarded a star. Here’s who won:

Tomato Juice

Orange Juice

Calories: 42

Calories: 111

Sodium: 24 mg

Sodium: 2 mg

Potassium: 556 mg

Potassium: 496 mg

Carbohydrate: 10 g

Carbohydrate: 26 g

Vitamin A: 21%

Vitamin A: 9%

Vitamin C: 74%

Vitamin C: 206%

TOTAL:

TOTAL:

Use tomato juice to: Lighten up spicy dishes. Use it to tone down spicy salsa or red sauce, or substitute it for tomato paste for a lighter sauce. Remove unpleasant smells. Soak food containers or work it into the fur of a dog that was sprayed by a skunk. The concentrated acid tones down the odors. Enhance your skin and hair. Apply it to your skin or hair to boost vibrancy. This DIY beauty trick comes from the high volumes of vitamins A and C. Be careful! Tomato juice can leave a permanent stain on clothes. If you spill, remove all excess juice before it spreads. White clothing can be bleached. Colors need more work. Stretch the piece of clothing over a bowl and fasten with a rubber band. Pour boiling water onto the damaged area and soak in warm water and detergent until the stain has disappeared.

9 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

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GET OUT OF TOWN

Views to dine for These close-to-home restaurants offer great food and vacation views. By Kaitlyn McMahon

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magine this: a glistening lakefront, snowcapped hills, a scenic skyline and a mouth-watering meal. Sounds like D SULFH\ JHWDZD\ ULJKW" %XW \RX FDQ ÀQG

vacation-style dining without ever leaving Southern Indiana. 812 tracked down three regional restaurants that offer savory dishes with a picture-postcard view.

7KH 6FHQLF 9LHZ 4600 State Road 446, Bloomington www.scenicviewbloomington.com (812) 837-9496 View: In Monroe County, this eatery overlooks the Hoosier National Forest with Lake Monroe in the distance. The striking landscape lures customers in all seasons of the year. Ambience: Rustic umbrella tables illuminated with decorative lights line the patio deck. Cozy booths inside offer views through a picture window. Menu =HVW\ $PHULFDQ FXLVLQH SDLUHG ZLWK Ă DYRUIXO seasonal cocktails. The View Melt, a twist on the classic patty melt, is a must-try. Photo by Kaitlyn McMahon

$LQVOH\Ĺ?V &DIÂŤ DQG +DUERU %DU 15179 Old State Road 101, Liberty www.ainsleyslakeside.com (765) 458-7474 View: Celebrate spring at this seasonal cafĂŠ and harbor bar overlooking Brookville Lake when it opens April 1. Ambience 6LW XQGHU PDULWLPH Ă DJV DW WKH ZRRG paneled bar or enjoy the fresh air on the extended patio of this classic harbor eatery. Menu: Nautical decor and a selection of seafood favorites, American classics, a kid’s menu and specialty drinks make this a great place for a familyfriendly lunch. Try the Strawberry Patch Margarita, a fan favorite. Photo courtesy of Ainsley’s CafĂŠ and Harbor Bar

%XFNKHDG 0RXQWDLQ *ULOO 707 W. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville www.eatatbuckheads.com (812) 284-2919 View: Floor-to-ceiling windows and a cozy back patio give this Jeffersonville favorite a skyline view of Louisville across the Ohio River. Ambience: The stone-and-timber bar and antler chandeliers give the grill its mountain-lodge feel. A GR]HQ Ă DW VFUHHQ 79V DUH PRXQWHG DURXQG IRU YLHZing the big game. Menu: With a wide selection of home-cooked classics like the signature Buckhead Pot Pie and an extensive list of craft beers, it combines comfort food and new favorites. Photo courtesy of Buckhead Mountain Grill

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The Bread Winner Bloomington Bagel Company owner Sue Aquila tackles business challenges the same way she approaches her triathlons.

By Arriel Vinson

O Bloomington business owner Sue Aquila competes in the biking portion of a triathlon. /Photo courtesy of FinisherPix.com

n a late Friday morning, the Bloomington Bagel Company on North Dunn Street is buzzing. The aroma of fresh EUHDG ² EDJHOV WR EH VSHFLĂ€F ² Ă€OOV the air. Some customers search the display case for cookies or donuts while others gaze at the chalkboard menu with blue, orange and hot pink writing. Employees strut back and forth from the bagels to the counter, serving each customer in less than two minutes. About half the 13 tables – topped with photos of customers around the world with BBC bagels ² DUH Ă€OOHG ZLWK SHRSOH EURZVLQJ the Internet, sipping coffee or enjoying a bagel with friends. Sue Aquila, the owner of BBC, ZDONV RXW RI KHU RIĂ€FH DQG LQWR the kitchen.

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“Somebody may be looking for me. I have an appointment,â€? she says. She goes EDFN WR KHU RIĂ€FH WR JUDE D ERRN EDJ DQG Ă€QGV D VHDW QHDU WKH KXEFDS PDQGDOD wall. Later, an employee heads to the refrigerator case with a box of iced teas. She slips and the box crashes to the ground, shattering the glass bottles inside. The contents seep out onto WKH WLOH Ă RRU “Are you OK?â€? Sue asks. “Yeah, I am,â€? the employee says as she starts to pick up the glass. “I just want to make sure you’re OK,â€? Sue says again. “That’s all that matters.â€? Aquila, 48, has always loved a challenge. She doesn’t do anything halfway. She opened the Bloomington Bagel Company 20 years ago with little formal business experience. She’s committed to supporting the community that has helped her succeed. She’s not afraid to tackle challenges in her personal life, either. When Sue sees a challenge, she methodically studies it, sets high goals and then works hard to achieve them. She prides herself in learning everything she can from those who have walked the path she now wants to run.

room temperature for days. The bagels are freshly boiled right before baking and serving, and they’re made fresh every day, so there’s no need for preservatives. The shop operates almost 24 hours a day, with bakers coming in at night to create the perfect FLUFOH RI à DYRU Sue says the bagels are good only for one day, but they take longer to make. About two days in advance, Colin Jenkins, 30, spreads the thick dough on a metal table in the shop’s kitchen, slicing it into about eight sections to prepare it for the bagel machine. He places the dough in the machine, turns it on and sets a large round plate at the end to catch the bagels. Then he sets WKH UDZ EDJHOV RQ EDNLQJ VKHHWV ÀOOLQJ up the entire rack. He repeats the process until he’s out of dough. Resting for two GD\V JLYHV WKH EDJHOV PRUH à DYRU Sue says the 11-grain bagel is her daily favorite. But when they have VHDVRQDO à DYRUV VXFK DV SXPSNLQ RU cranberry walnut with toasted butter, she strays from her regular. After all, she always likes to try something new.

“I wasn’t the kid selling soda in school.�

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BC Bagels aren’t anything like the pre-packaged ones you get at a grocery store, frozen or sitting at

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rowing up in Buffalo, New York, Sue would always read her mom’s ERRNV PRVWO\ EHVW VHOOLQJ ÀFWLRQ She says she hated children’s books. In high school, she read books about how to start a business because it was always an

interest of hers. Still, she never pursued it in high school and didn’t have a business idol to look up to. “I wasn’t the kid selling soda in school,â€? Sue says. She majored in psychology at St. Lawrence University in Buffalo and then decided to study sports management and marketing at Indiana University, with the goal of a career in professional or collegiate athletics. Sue says the universities in New York looked like prisons, and IU Bloomington’s campus was beautiful. So she decided to stay. %XW VKH FRXOGQ¡W Ă€QG D ´JRRG EDJHOÂľ like the ones she grew up with. For someone from New York, she says, a bagel is a critical part of life. She read an article in The Buffalo Evening News about the booming bagel industry. Her search for a delicious bagel and her desire to start a company propelled her to write a 30-page business plan. Sue says she’s always had an analytical mind and likes to look at data to make sure she is treading in the right direction. Her family teases her for being so detail-oriented. Normally, small business plans are brief. 1RZ VKH WHOOV RWKHU Ă HGJOLQJ entrepreneurs to never go longer than 10 pages. “I had to prove to myself that it would work,â€? she says. To learn the skills needed to open BBC, Sue got a job for minimum wage at the Daily Bread and later became an apprentice at The Bagel Baker in New

$TXLOD OHIW EHJDQ PDNLQJ RQO\ EDJHOV EXW EUDQFKHG LQWR RWKHU SURGXFWV &XVWRPHUV RIWHQ WDNH VHOĆ“HV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG ZLWK WKHLU favorite bagels, and Aquila laminates them to the tables (middle). /Photos by TJ Jaeger

14 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

York, both of which are now out of business. Sue started up the business with help from an old friend, Will Hays Jr. Now GHFHDVHG +D\V SURYLGHG WKH Ă€QDQFLDO support the business needed when it was just starting out. “He always used to ask me, ‘When are you and I going to start a business together?’â€? Aquila remembers. What used to be a Kinkos on North Dunn Street became WKH Ă€UVW ORFDWLRQ of BBC. The shop exceeded the business plan from the start. And BBC didn’t stop growing. The company added new locations, and when Dawn Keough became COO in 2002, she suggested the shop begin catering. In the early years, BBC took a lot of Sue’s time. She was working daily to make sure everything was running as smooth as whipped schmear. When Sue realized her management team could handle the stores without her, she cut back her hours. Now she’s in the store Wednesday through Friday and at her KRPH RIĂ€FH WKH UHVW RI WKH ZHHN She laughs as she remembers the time she and her staff had cell phones that Ă LSSHG RSHQ ´1RZ , FDQ UXQ P\ ZKROH business out of my iPhone anywhere in the world.â€? But Sue doesn’t attribute all of

BBC’s success to herself. She says that community and a team are what make BBC successful. “I opened BBC just making bagels and cream cheese,â€? Sue says. “I didn’t make HJJ DQG FKHHVH , GLGQ¡W PDNH PXIĂ€QV , didn’t make any of that. Our guests and our staff wanted that; they came up with the ideas.â€? Even so, selling bagels is not Sue’s only priority. She also values the community of Bloomington and the people who have given BBC so much support. “It’s easy for businesses to keep taking from the community,â€? Sue says. “That’s not how I’m wired.â€? So BBC sponsors organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and donates bagels to events that get people moving, such as runs and yoga sessions. “I want to have a long, happy and healthy life.â€? Sue says. “I want to feed people, and I want to provide healthy options.â€?

“He always used to ask me, ‘When are you and I going to start a business together?’�

S

he practices those healthy options in her own life today. When she cut back her BBC hours about 10 years ago, she found she had time for another challenge – this one physical. Sue was on the heavy side during college, and when she began training seriously, she lost 50 pounds.

Sue got involved in a running group in her free time, but her friend Tatiana Kolovou, a professor in IU’s Kelley School of Business, was frustrated with how slow she was. Kolovou convinced her to compete in a triathlon, a competition that judges the endurance of competitors through cycling, swimming and running. The duration of races vary, with some lasting up to 17 hours. Training was tough. While Sue learned more about the process through blogs and books, she says the learning curve was steep. She could have trained by herself, but knew her progress would be slower. Kolovou coached her running, but Sue also had to buy a bike and learn how to swim. She got faster, motivated by the challenge. )LQDOO\ 6XH FRPSHWHG LQ KHU Ă€UVW triathlon in 2006. “I fell in love with the sport even WKRXJK , Ă€QLVKHG EDFN RI WKH SDFN Âľ 6XH says. “I was slow, but I had a blast, and I thought, ‘Whoa, this is really fun!’â€? Now, Sue trains 15 to 30 hours each week, splitting the workouts. Some mornings she’ll run, then bike in the afternoon at home. Other days, she’ll swim and lift weights at the Monroe County YMCA.

I

t’s noon on a Sunday, and Sue is in the Monroe County YMCA pool with a yellow swim cap that says Endurance Corner – a group of professional triathletes and coaches, including Sue – in blue. She’s

BBC Bagels serves 18 different types of bagels (right), as well as seasonal options. /Photo by Arriel Vinson

15 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

A few minutes after 1 p.m., Sue Ă€QLVKHV KHU OHVVRQ “I’d recommend doing a lot of this drill,â€? Kate says. “OK. I can do it,â€? Sue says. She grabs her BBC water bottle and swim equipment, says goodbye to Kate and enters the women’s locker room.

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$TXLOD FURVVHV D WULDWKORQ Ć“QLVK OLQH ,Q VKH ZDV QDPHG DQ ,URQPDQ $OO :RUOG Athlete in her age class. /Photo courtesy of FinisherPix.com

in the farthest lane, speaking to her coach, Kate Zubkova, a 27-year-old swimmer who competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. After a few minutes, Sue and Kate are ready to begin the swim lesson. For an hour, Kate goes over the same stroke techniques with Sue, pacing the side of the 25-meter pool as she focuses on Sue’s arms and speed. Kate records the training session on her phone and critiques Sue as she reaches each end, playing back video. “See how much you were on your side?� Kate asks Sue, pausing the slowmotion video on her phone to show her. “Yeah. Wow! That’s interesting,� Sue says. “Let’s go 25 freestyle,� Kate says. Sue holds up her snorkel. “No or yes?�

´<HV 3XW WKH Ă€QV RQ WRR Âľ .DWH VD\V 6XH JUDEV KHU RUDQJH DQG JUD\ Ă€QV puts them on and lowers her black goggles to her face. She swims from one end to the other, then takes WKHP RII :LWK Ă€QV 6XH averages 30 seconds a length. Without them, she takes about a minute. Triathlon participants aren’t allowed to use any swim tools. Kate doesn’t coach Sue in other areas but says Sue’s swimming required the most attention. It’s hard for adults to learn swimming, she says, but Sue works hard to get better, and she follows directions. “This is not something all adults appreciate, when you tell them what they’re doing wrong,â€? Kate says. “She receives it, which is great.â€?

“I fell in love with the sport even though I Ć“QLVKHG EDFN RI the pack.â€?

16 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

ue has always been a hard worker, and brought this characteristic into other aspects of her life. She was named an Ironman All World Athlete in 2013 and a 2015 USA Triathlon Long Distance AG National Champion. She coaches at Endurance Corner in Bloomington. While the number of races vary, Sue has competed in as many as 13 in a year. Unlike many athletes, Sue doesn’t have to follow a strict diet. She says you won’t see her with a plate of fried food, but she needs about 4,000 calories a day. During competitions — all of which last between 11 to 30 hours — sugar keeps her running. However, food isn’t the only thing that keeps her energy high. She’s has fun during her races with music. During one triathlon, she kept replaying BeyoncÊ’s song “Drunk in Loveâ€? in her head. Sue also listens to music during GLIĂ€FXOW ZRUNRXWV ´&DOO 0H 0D\EHÂľ E\ Carly Rae Jepsen and other songs by Selena Gomez, Eminem and Florence + the Machine. If she’s doing a long and steady workout on her exercise bike, VKH ZDWFKHV KHU IDYRULWH 1HWĂ L[ VHULHV “Broadchurchâ€? and “Lost Girl.â€? But she still takes training and races seriously. Sue says she loses every time the gun goes off because she competes only in her age group, 45-49, which PHDQV VKH¡OO OLNHO\ Ă€QLVK EHKLQG \RXQJHU competitors. “I’m competing at a very high level and with every race, my goal is to win,â€? Sue says. “My goal is to deliver a performance I know I’m capable of.â€?

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ue is going into her ninth year competing in triathlons and still loves it. If she were to ever stop, she says one to two hours of activity a day would be the “sweet spot� for her. She still loves BBC and is looking to open a new location. For the 20th anniversary in August, she says the stores will have some kind of a public event to celebrate along with a private event for friends, family and employees. And she may face other challenges down the road. “I like the challenge of getting better at things,� she says, “and if you only do things you’re good at, you don’t really grow.�

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The mandolin takes years to learn and months to build. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

of lutherie

Three Southern Indiana traditional instrument makers share the secrets behind their distinctive sounds. By Andrea Crowley and Meghan Little

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riving down winding back roads of Brown County brings you in and out of shade and sunshine, past small farms with faded red barns and into the wooded hills where EOXHJUDVV PXVLF WRRN URRW +HUH \RX·OO ÀQG the artisans who create the beautifully handcrafted instruments of the genre. Traditional Arts Indiana calls our region an international center of traditional instrument-making. In the home of the world’s oldest bluegrass festival, the music and its instruments reign supreme.

Bluegrass culture centers on community, friendship and high-energy jam sessions. But the artisans behind the music, called luthiers, often prefer to work alone. They know the ins and outs of their signature instruments and have a deep respect for the sound they produce. And that’s what sets them apart. We visited the workshops of wellknown luthiers Bruce Taggart, Bill Berg DQG -HII 5XVVHOO WR ÀQG RXW PRUH DERXW their instruments and the stringed sounds of bluegrass.

19 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

His mandolins are like children.

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he wandered into his Nashville workshop during the early ‘80s. Her eyes were curious, a 15-year-old searching for a new instrument. She picked up D PDQGROLQ DQG VWDUWHG Ă€QJHULQJ WKH VWHHO strings. The sound was brighter and higher than a guitar, and it caught her attention. She bought the handcrafted instrument. That young girl went on to earn a record 27 Grammys over the next three decades. Today, most think of her as a famous singer-songwriter, but to Bruce Taggart, she’ll always be that teenaged Alison Krauss. Taggart, now 66, lives in a small cottage just north of town. His palms are coarse and dry from years of cradling XQĂ€QLVKHG ZRRG 7KH PDQGROLQV DUH OLNH children to him. “You’ve got to be nice to them, take them out and play them all the time, change their strings and make sure to put them in their case at night,â€? he says. Taggart grew up in Nashville. Like most luthiers, he found his talent as a child with model Location: Near airplanes. He built Nashville KLV Ă€UVW EDQMR QHFN Contact: (812) in 1973, and his 322-7829 hobby became a Cost: Between career. He now $2,500 and spends his time $6,000 constructing manGROLQV DQG Ă€GGOHV Above his garage is the studio, a womb IXOO RI XQĂ€QLVKHG PDQGROLQV *ORVV\ LQVWUXments line the windows and walls. After three months of sculpting the body and QHFN WKH PDQGROLQ LV Ă€QDOO\ Ă€QLVKHG Just like people, no two handcrafted mandolins are the same. Each produces a slightly different sound. After a mandolin is complete, he leaves it in his house so he can practice with it whenever he walks by. Today Taggart builds more for his own pleasure and love of the craft than to sell. The craft has changed, he says. Many romanticize the art, yet they don’t have an eye for how to build a good instrument. Taggart is a patient man, dedicated to making the perfect instrument every time. He sometimes spends up to 12 hours straight in his shop working on a new project. “It’s like standing at the bottom of the mountain,â€? he says. “I think, ‘Oh man, I can never make it all the way up there.’ If you do it one step at a time, before you know it you’re done. You just have to be willing to dig into it.â€?

Bruce Taggart

20 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Photo by TJ Jaeger

Making a banjo is a labor of love.

W

hen Earl Scruggs walked into the Bill Monroe Music Park in Bean Blossom, Jeff Russell’s jaw dropped. Scruggs was Russell’s lifelong inspiration. An impromptu jam session ensued, and the expert banjo maker of Franklin and the world-famous banjo player hit it off. Growing up, Russell, now 60, was the kid who liked to take things apart just to put them back together again. He always tinkered with plastic model cars and radiocontrolled airplanes. When he picked up a banjo as a teenager, Russell was eager to understand the anatomy of the classic bluegrass instrument. He’s been building them ever since. It takes about one to two months to complete a banjo. The handmade pieces remain close to Russell even after they’re Ă€QLVKHG +H EULQJV DW OHDVW WKUHH LQVWUXments with him to festivals and when he goes camping. “There’s always jamming going on,â€? he says. Location: Russell’s banjos Nashville are all about preciContact: Weed sion and require his Patch Store undivided attention (812) 988— ´Ă€QLFNLQHVV Âľ KH 1180 calls it. Cost: About He steams the $3,500 wood to bend around the tone ULQJ DQG Ă DQJH 7KH UHVRQDWRU LV ZDUSHG to a concave shape for the back. Routers cut pockets into the fret board so the handFXW SHDUO LQOD\V DUH Ă XVK Russell believes there are two types of people: those who understand craftsmen’s labor and those who don’t. Not everyone hears the difference in quality or sound. But when they do, they truly appreciate the piece. He’s had three people working with him in the past, but not one completed a full apprenticeship. People don’t realize what goes into building a banjo, and sometimes they realize it’s not for them. But Russell gets a feeling of accomplishment when he takes wood and metal and creates an instrument. Discipline is the biggest lesson he’s learned. Russell says Weed Patch draws in people who really understand the tonal qualities of the hardwoods, the techniques, the pickiness. “Everything is just all in tune DQG WKH\ JR WRJHWKHU SHUIHFWO\ Ă€W Âľ

Jeff Russell

21 Photo by TJ Jaeger

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Folk music gave him his start.

I

t was the age of Joni Mitchell. Long blond hair, high cheekbones and a sweet, pure voice made her the folkrock icon of the mid-’70s. For luthier Bill Berg, she was a beacon of business success. Originally from Illinois, Berg, 65, now lives in Brown County in a cozy, red brick house next to a gray barn. In his workshop, a layer of sawdust covers the Ă RRU OLNH IUHVK VQRZ 7KH EDUQ VPHOOV RI cedar and maple stacked around the shop. 6NHOHWRQV RI XQĂ€QLVKHG GXOFLPHUV VLW RQ the worktables. After Joni Mitchell’s hit album “Blueâ€? was released in 1971, young people everywhere wanted to play the mountain dulcimer. The humming sound of the instrument appears on many “Blueâ€? tracks, including the achingly beautiful “A Case of You.â€? The dulcimer has the look of a VWUHWFKHG RXW Ă€GGOH DQG LW VLWV RQ \RXU ODS while you play. Berg builds both mountain and hammered dulcimers. The primary differences are the sound Location: Near and shape. The Nashville mountain dulcimer Contact: (812) has the sound of a 988-8869 traditional string Cost: From instrument such as $140 to $600 the guitar, while the hammered dulcimer sounds more like a piano. Crafting instruments has been a passion for Berg as long as he can remember. When he was a boy, he’d build guitars out of old boxes and strings. Guitars gave way to banjos and eventually dulcimers. Berg hasn’t punched a clock since he began building dulcimers almost 40 years ago. “When you start working for somebody, you immediately pigeonhole yourself. I’ve avoided that,â€? he says. Others have come in to help him over the years, EXW KH Ă€QGV LW HDVLHU WR RYHUVHH WKH ZKROH process himself. He handpicks wood from the lumberyard, and his favorites are maple, walnut DQG FHGDU +H Ă€QGV WKH EXLOGLQJ SURFHVV more enjoyable than actually completing the instrument. He builds about six dulcimers at a time, and it takes six weeks RQ DYHUDJH WR Ă€QLVK RQH EDWFK In the beginning, Berg sold mostly to young people eager to play folk music. Now his customers are older crowds involved in church groups. But he plans to continue. “I’m just hoping another Joni Mitchell pops up.â€?

Bill Berg

22 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Photo by TJ Jaeger

THE MANDOLIN. Taggart says where the neck meets the body is the most intricate part. When a player brushes back and forth across the double strings, it creates the distinctive tremolo sound. /Photos by TJ Jaeger (left) and Andrea Crowley (right)

THE BANJO 5XVVHOO XVHV ÀOHV RI GLIIHUHQW VL]HV IRU HYHU\ SRLQW RQ WKH QHFN 7KH EDQMR·V ´SOXQNHW\µ VRXQG FRPHV IURP WKH GUXP like head stretched over the resonator. Finger picks can give you an even brighter sound. /Photos by Meghan Little

23 THE DULCIMER. Berg says the frets are crucial to the sound. Players often use a short dowel rod to pick out a song on the melody strings, while the middle and bass strings are “drones” that create the humming sound. /Photos by Meghan Little

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Which instrument is right for you? T hinking about learning to play a traditional instrument? We talked with singersongwriter and music teacher Will Devitt and developed a quiz to help you decide which one. “Listen to a lot of music and ask yourself what’s your favorite sound,” Devitt advises. “And then try that instrument.”

24 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

1. What's your generation?

4. Which best describes your personality?

a. Baby Boomer b. Millennial c. Generation X

a. Easygoing and laid-back b. Loud and outgoing c. Creative and optimistic

2. Which sentence best describes you?

5. Are you a leader or a follower?

a. I have no experience with stringed instruments. b. I have little experience with stringed instruments. c. I have some experience with stringed instruments.

a. I like to follow. b. I go to the beat of my own drum. c. I make a good team player.

3. What sound do you enjoy most?

6. What genre of music do you prefer?

a. Classical tune b. Traditional twang c. A banjo on helium

a. Folk b. Indie-rock c. Bluegrass

If you got mostly A’s:

If you got mostly B’s:

If you got mostly C’s:

Give Bill Berg a call. The dulcimer could be right for you. This instrument is easier to learn than most. /Photo by Meghan Little

Head over to Weed Patch and grab a banjo. Listen to some Mumford and Sons for inspiration. /Photo by Meghan Little

Chat with Bruce Taggart in Nashville. You might like the challenge of the mandolin. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

Before we feature any story, we make sure to dig, question, examine, and explore it. So when you tune in, you get the perspective you need to make sense of what’s happening in south central Indiana and across the state.

@wďŹ unews

@wtiunews

indianapublicmedia.org/news

A celebration of Southern Indiana. For inquiries about advertising in future editions of 812 magazine, contact IU Student Media at 812-855-0763 or email advertise@idsnews.com.

25 Catch the next issue in stands May 2016.

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

As Indiana’s state parks celebrate their centennial, 812 brings you an insider’s guide to our greatest natural resource. By Taylor Haggerty, Mercer T. Suppiger, Haley Church, Paige Hutson, Nicole Krasean, Courtney Veneri, TJ Jaeger, Danielle Flum and Kaitlyn McMahon

F 26 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

or the past 100 years, Hoosiers of all ages have treasured moments spent in the natural beauty of our state parks. They’re not only beautiful places to visit, but they’re spread out across the state, says Matt Williams, whose book, Indiana State Parks: A Centennial Celebration, came out in 2015. “You’re never going to be an hour away from one.” And nearly two-thirds of Indiana’s state parks are located in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana. To celebrate the parks’ centennial, our 812 team

hiked wooded trails, waded across creeks and scrambled up cliffs to bring you an aA a AAD ADD insider’s guide to this amazing natural resource. You’ll find trail guides, hidden places and must-see attractions at four of our oldest and grandest parks: McCormick’s Creek, Brown County, Clifty Falls and Spring Mill. We’ll introduce you to newer parks you may not know. We’ll share firstaid tips for the trail and do’s and don’ts for sharing the great outdoors. This centennial year, get outdoors and make some new memories of your own with 812 as your guide.

27 McCormick’s Creek has worn away the limestone bedrock, creating the falls and canyon. /Photo by Mercer T. Suppiger

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Catch the view from beneath the Twin Bridges just off Trail 5. /Photo by Mercer T. Suppiger

Wh here our state parrks began

The Nature Center screens ƓOPV HYHU\ 6XQGD\ PRUQLQJ

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cCormick’s Creek is a park steeped in history. Businessman and nature enthusiast Richard Lieber bought the land in 1916 at an auction and immediately gave it all back to Indiana in honor of the state centennial. McCormick’s was opened to the public on Dec. 11, 1916, making it the oldest of Indiana’s state parks. Near Spencer, WKH SDUN LV VRPHWLPHV VXUURXQGHG E\ ÁHD PDUNHWV DQG JDUDJH VDOHV %XW WXUQ LQWR WKH GULYH DQG \RX·OO ÀQG WKHVH VHDVRQDO VDOHV replaced by towering beech and tulip trees. A trip to this park will provide you with a history lesson, wet

socks and dirty knees if you’re willing to march along every trail. If hiking isn’t for you, don’t worry. You can enjoy a turtle feeding, bird walk or movie screening at the nature center. If you’re feeling hungry, stop by the Canyon Inn for their famous deep-fried tenderloin or buffet-style fried chicken. There’s something for everyone in McCormick’s diverse landscape and busy calendar if you’re looking for a good weekend out of town. “McCormick’s is a snapshot of everything you want an Indiana state park to be,” says naturalist Will Schaust. “All of the trails are easy to hike, even for kids, and there’s something for everyone. I hope people take advantage of that.”

- Taylor Haggerty

BY THE NUMBERS 28 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

80+ :LOGÁRZHU

129 Steps into the

60 36 10 106 Yards of underBluebird houses Feet of rushing Steps to the top

species between March and April

canyon from Trail 7

ground cave on Trail 5

inside the park grounds

waterfall on Trail 3

RI WKH ÀUH WRZHU on Trail 4 - Taylor Haggerty

A friend and I planned to walk all 10 trails because there’s a way to walk through the park where you can do them all in one long go. It was the middle of the winter, so it was just the two of us and her pet

dog. We spent the whole day walking around in the park together in the cold. I’d say that is my favorite memory of McCormick’s.

Shared by Andrea Oeding, former park naturalist.

MUST-SEES

According to naturalist Will Schaust, these are four attractions you have to visit.

Wolf Cave

Fire Tower

The cave is a tight squeeze for an adult, and you’ll spend most of the time either crouched down or crawling. It stretches for 60 yards and isn’t ideal for people afraid of small spaces or the dark, but kids can enjoy LW ZLWK D ÁDVKOLJKW DQG VRPH IULHQGV <RX FDQ ÀQG :ROI &DYH on Trail 5.

The lookout on top of the tower is closed due to lead paint on the interior walls, but the view from the top steps is worth the climb. The Friends of McCormick’s Creek have started a fundraiser to refurbish the tower, and it should be open to the public VRRQ <RX FDQ ÀQG WKH ÀUH tower on Trail 4.

Old Statehouse quarry The present state capitol building was built from limestone from McCormick’s Creek. The historic work site is open today for public exploration. Schaust says to look for the perforated lines where they pulled the limestone. The quarry is accessible from trails 2 and 10.

Peden Family Farm It includes the spring house, where perishable goods were kept cold by a natural spring, the old barn and the house foundation. Signs stationed throughout the area will explain the uses of each building, as well as its history. <RX FDQ ÀQG WKH 3HGHQ IDUP RQ Trail 9.

:ROI &DYH LV DOZD\V ZDUPHU than 50 GHJUHHV

- Taylor Haggerty

29 Native Americans hunted deer and grouse in the canyon carved by McCormick’s Creek. /Photo by Mercer T. Suppiger

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

THE LEGEND OF WOLF CAVE Hikers can explore the inside of legendary Wolf Cave. /Photo by Mercer T. Suppiger Editor’s note 7KLV ÀFWLRQDOL]HG DFFRXQW LV EDVHG on a true story told by park rangers.

7KH &DQ\RQ Inn has a OLEUDU\ \RX FDQ ERUURZ IURP GXULQJ \RXU VWD\

The natives don’t hunt ‘round here no more. 1DQF\ 3HGHQ UHSHDWHG WKH ZRUGV inside her head as she entered the thick of the forest, walking home after trading goods with the men who had tied off their Ă DWERDWV DORQJ WKH EDQNV RI WKH :KLWH River that evening. Those boatmen must’ve been short on supplies, Nancy thought. I can’t wait to show Jesse how much money we made today. Jesse was chopping wood in the cool morning fog the last time Nancy saw him. He had to stay at the farm to watch the sheep. Some of them had gone missing over the last couple of weeks. The natives don’t hunt ‘round here no more. A swollen sun hung low in the sky, sending deep orange rays through the hickory trees that swayed lazily as they whispered to each other. Nancy wished

she were back at the springhouse, where a VWUHDP UXQQLQJ XQGHU WKH Ă RRUERDUGV NHSW milk and eggs cool even on summer days. As the voices of the boatmen vanished behind her, she suddenly couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The natives don’t hunt ‘round here no more. That’s what her father had told her the year they settled this land back in 1816. She remembered because it was the same year people stopped calling this area the Indiana Territory. Now it was simply Indiana, and the native Miami tribe, who used to hunt deer and grouse along the river, hadn’t been seen for years. At least I ain’t lost, she thought as she approached a cave she had seen walking to and from the river. Her footsteps slowed when a glint of light caught her eye. A feeling of dread pierced her chest as she stared into the mouth of the cave. Wolves. /LJKW UHĂ HFWHG RII WKH EHDVW¡V VQDUOLQJ teeth. Slowly it emerged from the cave, its

head low to the ground. Then there were WZR WKUHH Ă€YH ZROYHV RXWVLGH WKH FDYH Nancy thought she heard more, but she GLGQ¡W VWLFN DURXQG WR Ă€QG RXW She sprang like a deer from where she stood, sprinting into the woods as the wolves barked behind her. She tore off her gloves and her white bonnet and tossed them at her pursuers. She didn’t look back to see if it had any effect. It was dark now, and Nancy ran toward the only light she could see, a faint glimmer of candlelight through the sycamores. She screamed Jesse’s name as she burst into the clearing at the edge of their farm. He was standing on the front porch with a lantern in one hand and a shotgun in the other. It was only then that Nancy noticed she didn’t hear the wolves anymore. She nearly knocked Jesse to the ground as she threw herself into his arms. “I think I know where our sheep have been disappearing to,â€? she said.

- Mercer T. Suppiger

FROM FARM TO SANITARIUM TO STATE PARK

30 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

,Q 1DQF\ 3HGHQ¡V IDWKHU D Scotch-Irish immigrant named John 0F&RUPLFN ZDV WKH Ă€UVW (XURSHDQ to settle the rugged land that would EHFRPH 0F&RUPLFN¡V &UHHN 6WDWH 3DUN 7KH 0F&RUPLFNV DQG WKH 3HGHQV OLYHG on the family farm for generations, until a smallpox epidemic hit in 1854. Nancy and Jesse’s children stayed until the early 1900s, when they moved to neighboring towns. Descendants of the two families are still farming in Monroe and Morgan counties today. The original site of the farm grew

decrepit over the years until Dr. Frederick Denkewalter, a German immigrant living in Indianapolis, bought the land in 1888. Denkewalter, enchanted by the landscape, built a sanitarium on the creek, a spa-like resort where wealthy individuals sought the healing powers of fresh air. Indiana purchased the land, and our ÀUVW VWDWH SDUN RSHQHG WR WKH SXEOLF RQ Independence Day 1916 to celebrate 100 years of statehood. In the 1920s, the old sanitarium was remodeled and renamed the Canyon Inn.

- Mercer T. Suppiger

The Canyon Inn was once a sanitarium for the wealthy. /Photo by Taylor Haggerty

TRAIL 3: CONQUERING THE CANYON Trail 3 is the only trail in McCormick’s Creek listed as “rugged.â€? It calls for a heavy pair of rain boots, good balance and a lot of drinking water. The trail covers less than a mile and won’t take much longer than a half hour if you move quickly. When I walked the trail, though, the last thing I wanted to do was hurry. The trail is a loop starting and ending near the Canyon Inn, running alongside the creek and down into the canyon itself. I was lucky enough to walk Trail 3 in its entirety. Rain and poor weather can Ă RRG WKH FUHHN DQG WKH WUDLO 7KH EHVW WLPH to hike it is after a series of dry days. The water level is low and the path easier to follow. Your only obstacles will be a few loose rocks on the path and some fallen trees you might need to climb over. You can start at the beginning and walk the whole loop, or you can drive to the Falls Lookout and start there; you won’t miss any of the canyon, and the falls are the primary attraction. A lookout and informational podium rests above the canyon. From there, you can see the falls in their entirety, and you get a nice view of the creek before it drops into the canyon,

BESTKEPT SECRETS Anyone can hike the trails in a state park, but it takes a WUXH ZRRGVPDQ WR ÀQG WKRVH special hideouts off the map. Here are two McCormick’s Creek hideaways for you to explore and enjoy.

surrounded on either side by forest and limestone walls. Along the sides of the canyon you can Ă€QG ULGJHV WKDW ORRN OLNH SOD\JURXQG VOLGHV Climbing up them can be a lot of fun if they’re steady, but some are dangerous and not consistently wide enough to walk on. If you plan on hiking along the sides of the canyon, be prepared to turn back at some point along the way. But give it a try – I found my favorite spot in McCormick’s Creek on one of those limestone trails. About halfway through the canyon itself, the trail opens up considerably. No signs tell you which way to go or what side of the creek you should stay on, so you’ve got a lot of freedom to explore. You can splash in the creek, sit down on a fallen tree for a break or take some pictures. <RX FDQ IROORZ WKH FUHHN XQWLO D Ă€QDO Ă LJKW RI VWDLUV OHDGV \RX RXW RI WKH FDQ\RQ or you can keep going. If the weather is right, follow the creek a little farther and \RX¡OO Ă€QG \RXUVHOI LQ WKH PLGGOH RI 7UDLO 10. From there, you can move on to either 7UDLO RU 7UDLO DQG Ă€QLVK \RXU YLVLW ZLWK a trip to Wolf Cave.

- Taylor Haggerty

Twin Bridges

Trail 1 grasslands

After crawling through the twists and turns of Wolf &DYH \RX¡OO Ă€QG \RXUVHOI in a hole in the ground – literally. The cave was once much longer, but only two stone arches, dubbed the Twin Bridges, remain. If you’re not willing to wiggle through the cave itself, you can access these arches by coming up the trail from the opposite direction.

Trail 1 starts near the family cabins and makes its way toward the Saddle Barn. At one point the trail opens up from woods and forestry to the grasslands of a prairie. According to Schaust, this is an ideal place for bird watching. Indigo buntings and common yellowthroats, among many others, spend their time in this area.

- Taylor Haggerty

Trees cling to the cliffs along Trail 3. /Photo by Taylor Haggertyrty

FROM MY NECK OF THE WOODS

812 got the chance to interview one of McCormick’s Creek’s avian residents, the bluebird.

“If you come to visit me, please knock on the door. I don’t like it when people arrive unannounced.�

“My husband’s a great singer. I made him sing 50 songs before we ZHQW RQ RXU Ă€UVW GDWH Âľ

Illustration by Taylor Ostrum

“I never go house-hunting. That’s my husband’s job. I just decorate once we’ve moved in.�

7KH Ć“UH WRZHU ZDV EXLOW LQ WKH V

“Most of us lay blue eggs, but my sister’s are white. I guess she doesn’t have my beautiful pigmentation.� “I haven’t slept much since my kids hatched. They want food every 15 minutes!�

Story by Taylor Haggerty

31 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

FIRST AID Hiking and camping outdoors can be a breathtaking adventure. But don't let these unwelcome SCENARIO 1: A RASH scenarios ruin your outing. What’s wrong: Something is gnawing 812 gathered tips from at your forearm. No, not gnawing — you the experts for when you feel an itch that only a fork could scratch. $ TXLFN VKLQH RI \RXU ÁDVKOLJKW VKRZV \RX encounter trouble on the WKH UHG EXPSV *XOS 3RLVRQ LY\ What to do: Once a rash shows up, trail.

32 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

SCENARIO 2: TICKS

you’re out of luck, says Dr. Holly Lee Heichelbech. Calamine lotion and products like Ivy Dry will help ease the itch, but it won’t go away for another two to three weeks. Next time: Avoid the three-leaved plant by wearing long pants and sleeves.

What’s wrong: As you remove your pants, you see a freckle that wasn’t there before. It kind of itches, too. To your dismay, it’s a tick. What to do: Don’t panic. Find some tweezers. Dr. Lee says to grab the base of the tick’s head and gently pull. If you get a bit of your skin with the tick, that means you did a thorough job. Wash the area with soap and water. Next time: :HDU WLJKW ÀWWLQJ FORWKHV and tall boots on a hike — and check regularly for the creeping bloodsuckers.

SCENARIO 3: THIRST

SCENARIO 4: BLISTERS

SCENARIO 5: CHIGGERS

What’s wrong: You’re tired. You feel a headache coming on, and, before you know it, the trees surrounding you are starting to spin. You’re dehydrated. What to do: Dehydration means you’re ORVLQJ PRUH ÁXLGV WKDQ \RX·UH WDNLQJ LQ Drink some water or a sports drink to replenish lost electrolytes. Sit and rest until you feel the world coming back into focus. Next time: Make sure you bring along and drink enough water so you don’t exhaust your body’s resources.

What’s wrong: Your trusty boot has rubbed your ankle into a blister the size of a quarter. You want to keep hiking, but every step is painful. What to do: As much as you want to, GR QRW SRS WKH EOLVWHU 3RSSLQJ LW RQO\ OHWV dirt and bacteria into the wound. Dr. Lee says to wait for it to go away on its own. If it does pop, keep it dry and covered with a bandage to prevent infection. Next time: Wear thick socks to prevent rubbing and double check that your shoes are not too big or too small.

What’s wrong: Tiny red bites on the backs of your knees are driving you crazy. You’ve encountered what hikers dread — chiggers, a nearly invisible pest. What to do: Folks used to swear that clear nail polish eases chigger bites, but it doesn’t. Doctors recommend hydrocortisone cream and warm, not hot, showers. Bites will clear up in a week or two. Next time: Avoid walking in tall weeds and grasses on warm days. Wear long sleeves and tuck pants into your socks.

- Haley Church

Smoke billows from a cabin that was built in the 1800s. /Photo by Haley Church

A

t Spring Mill State 3DUN QHDU 0LWFKHOO cultural history is preserved alongside natural history, says DNR program director &ROHWWD 3UHZLWW <RX¡OO Ă€QG WKH V village, the Gus Grissom Memorial and the Twin Caves boat tours in addition to the shimmering springs and tranquil trails. “You could spend an entire week here DQG VWLOO KDYH WKLQJV WR GR Âľ 3UHZLWW VD\V “At what other park can you see a space shuttle and a gristmill over 200 years old?â€?

- Haley Church

BY THE NUMBERS

7 6 (PSOR\HHV KDUG Original

5 Flights of stairs

at work in 3LRQHHU 9LOODJH

leading into the woods on Trail 4

buildings open to visitors

2,000 199 21 Degrees metal is Years since the Buildings found original gristmill opened

in WKH 3LRneer 9LOODJH

heated to by the blacksmith - Paige Hutson

33 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

BACK TO THE TIME OF THE PIONEERS Tom Wilder displays one of the tools he makes in the blacksmith shop. /Photo by Haley Church

3LRQHHUV VHWWOHG LQ the park LQ

It’s 1863. You approach a small village shadowed by a massive gristmill powered by a nearby spring. Twenty buildings are in use today, and six of them are originals from the 1800s, including an apothecary, mercantile shop and the towering mill. The limestone structure is almost 200 years old. You enter through D VLGH GRRU DQG FOLPE XS WKH ZRRGHQ à RRUV WR ÀQG D PDQ ZHDULQJ D OHDWKHU KDW WKDW resembles a train conductor’s.

Meet Jeff, the miller: It’s hard to imagine a mill this size being built in six months, but it was. Jeff 3UHFKWHO VD\V OLPHVWRQH ZDV TXDUULHG IRU it in 1817. It uses the water from a nearby cave spring, which stays a constant 57 degrees and never freezes.

Jeff grinds corn every hour, on the hour. “I like history and being able to demonstrate a skill that is not that common at all anymore,� he says. The heavy millstone crushes the corn kernels, spilling gold meal into a waiting box below.

Meet Tom, the blacksmith: <RX FRQWLQXH WKURXJK WKH YLOODJH WR Ă€QG a building nestled just behind the carriage KRXVH &ODQJ FODQJ FODQJ )LHU\ VSDUNV Ă \ around the head of Tom Wilder. He says the metal needs to be warm enough to PROG OLNH EXWWHU +H SOD\V ZLWK Ă€UH TXLWH literally — his bare hands are blackened with ash. He grips a carefully pointed metal prod in between hammering. “I’m retired and this is my playhouse,â€? he says.

Meet Marietta, the weaver:

34 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Jeff Prechtel grinds corn meal you can buy. /Photo by Haley Church

After 29 years at the village, Marietta Boliaff still works the two-harness loom that’s about the width of a kitchen table for a family of four. She weaves rugs, placemats, table runners and curtains. Hundreds of threads are intricately strung in front of her, forming the warp of a multi-color rug. How long does it take? “That’s the question everyone asks me,� she says, “And I tell everyone the same thing: Four hours. You never know with

these things, and it all depends on what you’re making.� 9LVLWRUV FDQ EX\ ZRYHQ JRRGV DW WKH mercantile shop, just a few doors down.

Meet Doug, the woodworker: The afternoon sun lights up the woodZRUNLQJ VKRS ZKHUH \RX¡OO Ă€QG HYHU\WKLQJ ranging from children’s toys to custom, award-winning bowls. Doug Alexander, in a brown hat and black suspenders, peers out from behind small rounded spectacles. “I’m the new kid on the block,â€? he said. “But woodwork is right up my alley.â€? He shows off a carefully carved swan no bigger than the palm of his hand. Doug also makes authentic wooden tools for his fellow interpreters to use.

Meet Pam, the gardener: 3DP 6KXOO KDV ZRUNHG DW WKH YLOODJH IRU eight years, and volunteered before that. She wipes sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand as she assembles the materials needed to make clay pots. The resident potter and gardener, 3DP KDV DOVR WDNHQ RQ WKH UROHV RI ZKHDW weaver and candle-maker. “Anything you do with your hands, I can do,â€? she says. ´6KH¡V WKH Ă€UVW RQH WR FRPH LQ WKH spring and the last one to leave in the fall,â€? &ROHWWD 3UHZLWW VD\V

- Haley Church

BEST-KEPT SECRETS Village gardens

Penny quilt

Cave kisses

,Q WKH 3LRQHHU 9LOODJH WZR VWRQH DUFKHV lead the way to the plot kept by the town’s gardener. It’s a beautiful place to walk through, and you can take a picture, relax and enjoy the season’s plants and à RZHUV

In the nursery and daycare building of the village, a bed in the back bedroom is FRYHUHG ZLWK SHQQLHV 9LVLWRUV VWRS DQG throw a penny on the handmade quilt. Somewhere on the quilt is a penny I left for future visitors to see.

While you take the Twin Caves Boat Tour in the left cave, you can also step into the mouth of its twin on the right. Climb through the opening and enjoy a few cave kisses – droplets of water falling from the cave’s roof.

- Paige Hutson

,Q WZR PHQ ZHUH WUDSSHG LQ 'RQDOGVRQ &DYH IRU KRXUV

The mill grinds up corn into meal you can buy. See our cornbread recipe and video at 812magazine.com. /Photo by Haley Church

MUST-SEES Twin Caves

Spring Mill Inn

Nature Center

Grissom Memorial

OK, so maybe you’re not up for belaying down into a dark hole. But from May 1 to August 31, you can take a boat tour through Twin Caves for $3. You may even see an endangered EOLQG FDYH ÀVK

Check into the four-story limestone lodge. Common DUHDV KDYH ÀUHSODFHV DQG most rooms are furnished with handmade Amish rocking chairs perfect for winding down after a day in the park.

Open in March until the end of October, the center gives kids the chance to see six live VQDNHV DQG D ER[ WXUWOH 3DUN naturalists answer questions about the natural or cultural history of the area.

+RRVLHU 9LUJLO ´*XVÂľ *ULVVRP was America’s second man in space. Learn about his life and see his space suit and the Gemini 3 Molly Brown capsule on display.

.

- Haley Church

FROM MY NECK OF THE WOODS LQWHUYLHZHG RQH RI 6SULQJ 0LOO¡V Ă LWWHU\ UHVLGHQWV WKH OLWWOH EURZQ EDW “The caves are the perfect WHPSHUDWXUH IRU VOHHSLQJ LQ (YHQ in winter, the temperature stays above 50 degrees.â€?

“I love to have sleepovers with friends. I invite the whole neighborhood, and we sleep in a cave for months at a time!�

´0\ IDYRULWH IRRG LV Ă \LQJ insects. Be thankful I eat them so they don’t bother you.â€?

Illustration by Taylor Ostrum

“My friend just died from White 1RVH 6\QGURPH 3OHDVH IROORZ safety rules to keep me safe.� “I think I’ve lost weight this year. Now I only weigh as much as three pennies.�

Story by Paige Hutson

35 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Hamer Cemetery has gravestones from as early as the 1800s and as recent as the past two decades. /Photo by Paige Hutson

TRAIL 4: GRAVESTONES AND ECHOES

0RUH WKDQ SHRSOH YLVLW 6SULQJ 0LOO DQQXDOO\

7UDLO VWDUWV RXW Ă DW <RX PLJKW DVN yourself how such an easy trail could be labeled “ruggedâ€? on the park map. Gray squirrels dart into the path in front of you, stopping to study what you’re doing. Signs for picnic sites line the trail, which doesn’t yet feel like it’s earned the title of rugged. All of a sudden, the trail goes straight uphill. The path opens up where trees were FXW WR PDNH URRP IRU D SRZHU OLQH 3LRQHHU 9LOODJH FDQ EH VHHQ DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH trail if you peek through trees. The trail continues to wind around, curving through the trees. Your thighs start to burn. The path gets narrower. Moss covers the rocks on the sides. <RX¡OO Ă€QG \RXU WUHN LQWHUUXSWHG E\

36 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Photo by Haley Church

D EDFN HQWUDQFH WR WKH 3LRQHHU 9LOODJH where you can take a break if the strain is too much. If you continue, a sign for an old lime kiln tells the story of when limestone was used to create mortar and fertilizer. 0DQ\ à LJKWV RI VWDLUV DZDLW \RX DQG WKH ÀUVW RQH LV DW OHDVW WZR VWRULHV 7KH WUDLO ORRSV DQG SDVVHV WKH +DPHU 3LRQHHU Cemetery, where you can stop to study the old graves, some as old as the early 1800s and some from the last two decades. The trail loops around on stairs and paths to a trail toward Donaldson Cave, where a barely visible yellow sign tells hikers that the cave is closed in an effort to contain White Nose Syndrome, a disease responsible for the deaths of thousands of bats in the eastern United States. Spring

Mill wants to make sure the disease doesn’t endanger the bats in its caves. If you still want to walk down the path to the cave entrance, you can make \RXU ZD\ GRZQ DERXW ÀYH à LJKWV RI VWDLUV through the woods. Forest greenery is all you can see on either side of the staircase. You come to a creek leading to the entrance to Donaldson Cave. Make sure you pause here to take in the atmosphere. Walk into the opening and absorb the cool, damp smell of the FDYH ZDOOV (YHQ ZKHQ \RX ZKLVSHU \RX can hear your voice echoing off the walls. :KHQ \RX WDNH WKH WUDLO EDFN WR ÀQLVK the last half of the hike, you’ll pass other sights, including a tribute to noted American ornithologist Alexander Wilson.

One time, we and our neighbor’s family went camping, and we had a lot of rain before we got there. The campground was saturated, and it was still raining. It was very windy, so we draped

a tarp from their camper to ours, and we could visit with each other without getting wet. It turned out to be so much fun playing cards and games and sharing a big pot of chili.

- Paige Hutson

Shared by Marilynne Phipps, 62.

WHICH STATE PARK ARE YOU? You want to visit one of Southern Indiana’s state parks, but you aren’t sure which one you’d like best. Lucky for you, 812 designed a quiz to steer you in the right direction. Find out which state park matches your style.

1. My favorite outdoor activity is:

4. On the trails, I prefer:

a. Hiking or mountain biking, from sunup to sundown. b. )LVKLQJ IRU ODUJHPRXWK EDVV ZDOOH\H ZKLWH FDWĂ€VK RU anything that’ll take the bait. c. Discovering the history embedded in the soil and enjoying the scenic view. d. ([SORULQJ WKH DUHD DQG PDNLQJ HYHU\ WULS DQ DGYHQWXUH e. 0DNLQJ V¡PRUHV DURXQG WKH FDPSĂ€UH DQG sleeping under the stars.

a. Running with a partner so we can race each other. b. Walks that lead directly to the water. c. 9LVLWLQJ PXVHXPV DQG QDWXUH FHQWHUV WR OHDUQ DERXW WKH environment. d. Rugged topography so I can catch some air on my mountain bike. e. Winding, hilly paths with waterfalls and creeks along the way.

5. My friends would describe me as: 2. My favorite kind of dog is:

a. Athletic b. 3HDFHIXO c. Curious d. Adventurous e. Outdoorsy

a. 9L]VOD b. 3RUWXJXHVH ZDWHU GRJ c. Labrador retriever d. Siberian husky e. Border collie

6. I think the outdoors is: 0\ JR WR Ć“UHVLGH WXQH LV

a. Totally cool! b. Relaxing — nothing’s better than some peace and quiet. c. Beautiful, but I don’t like the bugs. d. Full of adventures and surprises. e. Amazing. The simple way of life is refreshing.

a. ´,¡P *RQQD %H 0LOHV Âľ 7KH 3URFODLPHUV b. ´&DWFK $OO WKH )LVKÂľ %UDG 3DLVOH\ c. “Send Me (On My Way)â€? - Rusted Root d. “Small Townâ€? - John Mellencamp e. ´)UHH )DOOLQ¡¾ 7RP 3HWW\

- Kaitlyn McMahon

A trail ride passes by the Peden family farm. /Photo by Taylor Haggerty

Mostly A’s:

Mostly B’s:

Mostly C’s:

Mostly D’s:

Mostly E’s:

Clifty Falls

Versailles

Spring Mill

Brown County

McCormick’s Creek

You’re a competitor and a challenge-seeker. Your IULHQGV RIWHQ ÀQG \RX training for a marathon and look to you for adventure. Known for its rugged topography, this state park is an excellent place to put your abilities to the test.

A bit of an introvert, you enjoy the peace and quiet. Your biggest thrill LV Ă€QGLQJ ZKDW¡V RQ WKH HQG RI \RXU Ă€VKLQJ OLQH or breathing fresh air on the trails. This newer park has a 230-acre lake VZDUPLQJ ZLWK Ă€VK DQG 35 miles of trails.

Curious by nature (pun intended), you’re fascinated by things other people might call QHUG\ ([SORUH DQFLHQW caves on a boat tour or interact with history at WKH 3LRQHHU 9LOODJH 7KLV state park will spark your imagination.

A thrill-seeker and adventure junkie, you’re a modern-day Indiana Jones. Mountain bike over nine different trails and hike up and down the hills at Indiana’s largest state park. You’ll ÀQG D QHZ DGYHQWXUH around every corner.

&DPRXà DJH LV \RXU favorite color, rugged is your middle name, and a sleeping bag is your bed of choice. Here you’re as close to nature as you can get, surrounded by caves and waterfalls and canyons.

37 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

The Ohio River runs alongside Clifty Falls. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

A land frozen in time

7KH EHVW WLPH WR VHH WKH ZDWHUIDOOV LV LQ WKH ZLQWHU DQG ODWH VSULQJ

W

e all know about Niagara Falls and Yellowstone Falls. But did you know Indiana has waterfalls of its own? &OLIW\ )DOOV 6WDWH 3DUN HVWDEOLVKHG LQ 1920 and located just outside Madison, boasts four seasonal waterfalls that cut through ancient shale and limestone. 3URSHUW\ 0DQDJHU 'DUU\O 6NLQQHU D QDWLYH +RRVLHU LV WKH PDQ behind the park. Skinner has been with Clifty Falls for 44 years, and in that time he has literally shaped it into what it is today. “We blazed the trails,� he says. “I blazed Trail 9 with a backhoe and a tractor bucket.� Big Clifty Falls, Little Clifty Falls, Hoffman Falls and Tunnel Falls are enough to keep you occupied for an afternoon, but it’ll take more than that to fully immerse yourself in all the park’s trails, tunnels, stories and secrets.

- TJ Jaeger

<RX FDQ Ć“QG WKH ZKLWH PDUNHG 7XVVRFN PRWK DW &OLIW\ )DOOV DQG LQ other parts of Indiana. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

BY THE NUMBERS 38 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

4 2 850 450 14 4 Waterfalls open Tunnels hidden Feet above sea Feet above sea Maximum days Total reported for the public to explore

under the trails. Check Trail 1.

level at the highest point

level at the lowest point

you can stay at one time

snake bites on record - TJ Jaeger

I am originally from Northern Indiana, so I grew up EHWZHHQ Ĺ´DW FRUQĆ“HOGV DQG you could see a stoplight a mile away. When I went down to Southern Indiana, down to Clifty, I was just completely awestruck at the geology.

It was just unbelievable to me to think that I was still in Indiana, to have cliffs and the ravines. The geology was just incredibly shocking to me the Ć“UVW WLPH , ZHQW WKHUH 7KDWĹ?V P\ Ć“UVW PHPRU\ RI &OLIW\ Shared by Kristie Ridgway, former naturalist at Clifty Falls

MUST-SEES Clifty Inn

Brough’s Folly

Park drives

Lilly Memorial

(QG DQ H[FLWLQJ GD\ RQ WKH WUDLO with a night at the inn. Located at the south end of the park, the homey lodge has rooms overlooking the Ohio River, a gift shop with perfect park VRXYHQLUV DQG D ERQĂ€UH WR VWD\ cozy during your stay.

If you visit the park any time from May 1 to October 31, this tunnel is a must-do. On Trail 5, the newly reopened tunnel is not only a historical landmark, but also a gem that takes a look inside to fully appreciate LW 'RQ¡W IRUJHW D à DVKOLJKW

Driving probably isn’t what comes to mind when you think state parks, but these winding roads reveal the beauty of the valleys and streams. You can pull over at certain points to walk a trail or snap a photo.

Sometimes we forget to stop, look around and take in our surroundings. Make your best 3% - DQG KHDG WR /LOO\ 0HPRrial on Trail 5 for some “you� time. The stone structures built by CCC workers in the 1930s offer lovely views.

+RIIPDQ )DOOV ORFDWHG LQ the center RI WKH SDUN LV IHHW WDOO

- Danielle Flum

39 Wooden bridges like this are a common sight at the park. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

A STOP ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

7XQQHO )DOOV ORFDWHG LQ WKH QRUWKZHVW FRUQHU RI WKH SDUN LV IHHW WDOO

Clifty Falls is full of myths. The park is home to mysterious animal sightings, from mountain lions to swarms of copperheads. Skinner’s even heard of bear sightings, though that was quickly debunked. “A lady came in and said, ‘The kids had so much fun. They were watching these little baby bears running around the campground,’� he says. “They were raccoons.� The park’s rumored connection with the Underground Railroad, though, is EDVHG LQ IDFW -R\FH 3HUNLQV D YROXQWHHU at the Jefferson County Historical Society, VD\V WKH\ DQG WKH -HIIHUVRQ &RXQW\ 3XEOLF Library have archived newspapers telling the tale. In the mid-19th century, a free African American named Chapman Harris lived three miles east of Madison. Living just off the Ohio River, Harris was in the perfect place to help escaped slaves. He worked as a blacksmith and frequently rowed slaves across the river to his home. Clifty was a midway point between the Ohio River and Harris. Caves and trees offered protection, and slaves would hide throughout what would become a state park in 1920.

- TJ Jaeger

Caves and tunnels stretch out underneath the trails. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

BEST-KEPT SECRETS :DOODFH )DOOV ORFDWHG RQ WKH ZHVW VLGH RI WKH SDUN ZDV UHPRYHG IURP RIĆ“FLDO PDSV DIWHU LW ZDV GHHPHG XQVDIH IRU KLNHUV

Lookout Point

Cake Rock

Observation tower

In between trails 6 and 7, a wooden walkway leads to the gazebo. The platform stands just a few feet off the ground, giving you a perfect view over the park. You can sit for a while and take in the beauty of the park. You can also access this hideout from the road.

I found the famous Cake Rock during my hike on Trail 7. Don’t let the wooden fence scare you away. You can still get up close for the perfect photo. The giant boulder stands about 20 feet tall. You’ll know Cake Rock when you see it, but if you don’t recognize it, an engraved sign points it out.

You’ll see the wooden staircase on Trail 1, and you don’t want to miss out on the view. The tower is high, but a fear of heights shouldn’t prevent you from walking up. The top offers an impressive vista of the Ohio River. Climb the tower at sunset for a perfect photo op.

- Danielle Flum

FROM MY NECK OF THE WOODS 812 got the chance to interview one of Clifty’s slithery residents, the copperhead snake “We won’t bite unless you step on us. But, we don’t like to be in the open, so you might not see us.�

“I like meat, but don’t worry – I’m not going to swallow you up. I stick to small stuff, like mice.�

40 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

“I’m 34 inches long, which is 4 inches longer than most of my IULHQGV 3UHWW\ FRRO ULJKW"

Illustration by Taylor Ostrum

“ I love the forests here, and \RX FDQ Ă€QG PH VOLWKHULQJ around or sleeping underneath a rock.â€?

“My family can be found in most southeastern states, but I even have some buddies down in Texas!�

Story by Danielle Flum

OUTDOOR ETIQUETTE We have one of the top state park systems in the country, Ă€OOHG ZLWK IRUHVWHG KLOOV DQG QDWXUDO ZLOGOLIH ´<HW ,QGLDQD¡V natural treasures are unknown or underappreciated by many, LQFOXGLQJ D ORW RI +RRVLHUV Âľ VD\V QDWXUDOLVW 3KLO %ORRP LQ KLV book, Hiking Indiana: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. Nature surrounds us in our parks, and we have a responsibility to preserve it and ensure an enjoyable visit for everyone. The DNR and other outdoor groups offer these do’s and don’ts for sharing the wilderness.

DO... Allow faster hikers, horses and bikers to pass on the trail so all visitors can enjoy nature at their own pace.

Cake Rock towers over Trail 7. Each year, the land under the rock erodes a little more. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

TRAIL 7: FINDING THE FALLS Trail 7 begins near the North Gate entrance. My biggest piece of advice would be to wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes. I’d also UHFRPPHQG EULQJLQJ D FDPHUD 7UXVW PH \RX ZRQ¡W Ă€QG YLHZV like this anywhere else in Indiana. I came to the park prepared, with my sneakers tied tight, my ZDWHU ERWWOH Ă€OOHG DQG P\ FDPHUD IXOO\ FKDUJHG 0\ WUDLO JXLGH said I was about to embark on one of the longest paths in the park, one that was deemed to be moderately rugged. Considering I’m not exactly a wilderness expert, I was unsure what was to come on my 1.25-mile trek on Clifty Falls’ Trail 7. I had heard great things about this trail’s scenery, but what made it the best trail for me was its location. It’s the closest one to the North Gate parking lot, making it easily accessible. 7KH WUDLO EHJLQV ZLWK D PDJQLĂ€FHQW YLHZ RI &OLIW\ )DOOV $IWHU a rain, rushing water cascades over layers of rock, plunging 60 feet into the canyon. Unfortunately, none of the waterfalls were active during my visit. But they’re at their peak during the winter months, so don’t be discouraged if you see a dry chute RQ \RXU Ă€UVW YLVLW The loop trail eventually brings you back to where you started. Wooden stairs and rocky patches give it the “moderately ruggedâ€? label. Overall, the hike gives you a semi-rigorous workout, great scenery and a good time. You’ll see waterfalls, towering trees and maybe a squirrel or two. The trail won’t take you more than an hour. If it’s not rigorous enough, try Trail 2. Stairs give you a good workout. /Photo by TJ Jaeger

- Danielle Flum

Make noise as you’re rounding a corner to warn other visitors you’re headed their way. Wear neutral clothing that blends in with the surroundings and doesn’t disturb other campers. However‌ Wear red, yellow or orange during hunting season. This is for your own safety! 0DNH D FDPSÀUH RQO\ LQ WKH ÀUH FLUFOHV SURYLGHG DW HDFK VLWH 7KLV ORZHUV WKH ULVN RI IRUHVW ÀUHV %X\ ÀUHZRRG IURP WKH FDPSJURXQG VWRUH RU EULQJ \RXU own to prevent transferring pests and pathogens. Drink water only from the stations or fountains in the park. They’re provided just for campers. Keep your dog on a leash of six feet or less so he won’t chase after wildlife or other hikers. 3LFN XS \RXU WUDVK DQG OLWWHU DV ZHOO DV DQ\ \RX VHH around the park. Be aware of your surroundings and communicate with nearby hikers to avoid any accidents.

DON’T... Startle hikers, bikers or equestrians. If you are approaching them from behind, say “hello.â€? Hike side by side, especially in groups. Never take up more than half the trail space. &ROOHFW OLPEV EUXVK RU WUHHV IRU Ă€UHZRRG 'HFRPSRVLQJ plants replenish the soil. Bring more than one vehicle per campsite. Too many cars cause congestion and safety hazards. Write names on trees or rocks. The parks are places to enjoy nature, not vandalize it. 3LFN ZLOGĂ RZHUV RU RWKHU SODQWV /HDYH WKHP WR UHVHHG DQG EX\ \RXU JLUOIULHQG Ă RZHUV LQ WRZQ Make too much noise from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. These are the park “quiet hours.â€? Do your business within 200 feet of a campsite or water supply.

- Kaitlyn McMahon

41 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Autumn vistas attract thousands to Indiana’s biggest park. /Photo by Geoffrey Thompson.

Nature at its peak

A

7KH EXVLHVW ZHHNHQG LV WKH RQH MXVW EHIRUH +DOORZHHQ

s Indiana’s largest state park, Brown County holds a special place in our hearts. Whether you’re hiking, going for a ride on a bike or a horse or have no clue what you want to do, this is the crown jewel of the state parks. Spanning over 15,000 acres, Brown County FDQ Ă€W WKH RWKHU WKUHH SDUNV LQVLGH LW ZLWK VSDFH OHIW RYHU 7UDLOV range from less than a mile to over three miles and offer breathWDNLQJ YLHZV LQFOXGLQJ WKH IDPRXV +HVLWDWLRQ 3RLQW Âł ZKHUH bikers from all over the country come to test their skills. “My life wouldn’t be complete without it,â€? says Don Glass, a naturalist at Brown County. “I like every part of it. I wish I would’ve known about the opportunity to work here sooner.â€? No matter what your age or experience level, Brown County 6WDWH 3DUN KDV VRPHWKLQJ IRU HYHU\RQH

- Courtney Veneri

Visitors climb the park’s Fire Tower. /Photo by Nancy Comiskey

BY THE NUMBERS 42 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

1.3 4 Million visitors Kinds of oak:

20 Kinds of wild-

3 1,058 500 Towers: North Feet above sea Feet above sea

to the park every year

Ă RZHUV WKDW bloom in spring

and West lookouts and the Fire Tower

black, chestnut, red and white

level at the Fire Tower’s base

level at the Covered Bridge - Nicole Krasean

MUST-SEES Hesistation Point

The Saddle Barn

+HVLWDWLRQ 3RLQW LV RQH RI %URZQ &RXQW\¡V most famous biking trails, with visitors coming from all over the country to test their skills. Climb two miles of intermediate trail over one of the steepest inclines the park has to offer or travel to the summit by car. Anyone from nature enthusiasts to families with small children can take advantage of the view.

Anyone interested in an equestrian adventure can head over to the Saddle Barn for some horseback riding through the forest. Adults can take a guided trail ride through Brown County at a rate of $15 for 35 minutes or $25 for one hour. Riders must be at least 7 years old. For younger kids, pony rides at the Saddle Barn cost $2 per lap.

The Lakes Nature Center Head to the Nature Center to learn about all the wildlife that lives in Brown County. The center offers gardens, a live snake and other interactive exhibits. You can also observe birds and other forest animals through a one-way window in the birdwatching room. If you aren’t ready to start walking around the park, the center also offers a driving audio tour.

Hikers can circle both Jimmy Strahl and Ogle lakes on Trails 6 and 7. These popular paths offer great water views and plenty RI ELUGV DQG WXUWOHV 9LVLWRUV FDQ DOVR ÀVK there. Ogle allows non-motorized boats, as long as you bring your own. When the ODNHV DUH IUR]HQ \RX FDQ LFH ÀVK %H VXUH WR VWRS DW WKH SDUN RIÀFH WR JHW D ÀVKLQJ permit. The cost $9 for the day or $17 for the year.

- Courtney Veneri

$ \HDU ROG YLVLWRU WDNHV D SRQ\ ULGH ZLWK his aunt. /Photo by Nancy Comiskey

BEST-KEPT SECRETS %LNLQJ TXDOLĆ“HUV

Hohen Point

Picture-perfect sunset

If you’re not sure you’re ready for an intermediate or advanced biking trail, don’t worry. All the harder trails have a ´TXDOLĂ€HU Âľ PD\EH D SLOH RI URFNV EHIRUH you get too far. It tells you to expect more of the same.

:KHQ WKH UHVW RI WKH SDUN LV ÀOOHG ZLWK hikers, bikers and leaf-peepers, Hohen 3RLQW FDQ EH D TXLHWHU UHWUHDW $ VLJQ DW the vista points out stands of evergreens planted in the ’30s to reforest the once clear-cut hills.

+HVLWDWLRQ 3RLQW PD\ EH RQH RI %URZQ County’s best-known spots, but not many visitors take the time to see Hesitation 3RLQW DW VXQVHW %HFDXVH LW IDFHV ZHVW you’ll get the perfect view of the colorful evening sky.

It was a chilly morning – December 5, 1992. I’d only been in Boy Scouts for a few weeks. We were supposed to travel from Strahl Lake to Ogle Lake. We somehow got turned around on Taylor 5LGJH DQG LW ZDV WRR GLIƓFXOW

to backtrack. One of my buddies and I decided to build a fort. We huddled together through the night. It got down to 15 degrees and was sleeting. Helicopters ZHUH Ĺ´\LQJ RYHUKHDG ZLWK heat sensing technology,

but they only found sleeping deer and missed us. In the morning, runner Chris Curtain found us. It was an adventure. 'HĆ“QLWHO\ D OHVVRQ LQ EHLQJ prepared.

- Courtney Veneri

7KH ROGHVW EXLOGLQJV LQ %URZQ &RXQW\ State Park are &&& VKHOWHUV EXLOW GXULQJ the Great 'HSUHVVLRQ

Shared by Jake Brinkman, a naturalist at Eagle Creek Park

43 Turtles sunbathe on a partially submerged log on Ogle Lake. /Photo by Nancy Comiskey

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

7KH $EH 0DUWLQ /RGJH LV QDPHG DIWHU WKH EDFNZRRGV FDUWRRQ FKDUDFWHU ZKR OLYHG LQ %URZQ &RXQW\

Trail 5 leads through the Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve and connects with a trail around Ogle Lake. /Photo by Nancy Comiskey

TRAIL 5: HIKING IN THE YELLOWWOODS At just three-fourths of a mile, Trail 5 is the shortest of the 12 hiking trails in the park, but it’s also the most rugged. The trail also features 17 stations on a self-guided nature tour, but I found it to be a great hike through the undisturbed Ogle +ROORZ 1DWXUH 3UHVHUYH The 41-acre preserve was created to protect yellowwood trees discovered there in 1933. I saw plenty of beeches and ferns while hiking the trail, but I thought the yellowwood was the prettiest. While I didn’t see any creatures besides squirrels and another hiker’s dog, salamanders, deer, turtles and raccoons are said to be

living here, too. ,Q WKH VSULQJ WKH 1DWXUH 3UHVHUYH FRPHV DOLYH ZLWK ZLOGà RZHUV <RX FDQ ÀQG mayapples, spiderwort, celandine poppies, jacks-in-the-pulpit and other blooms on your walk, so bring a camera. I entered the trail at the end of the Ogle Ridge and Rally Campground parking ORW DQG ZDONHG GRZQ WKH à LJKWV RI VWDLUV WKDW OHDG WR WKH GLUW WUDLO , ZRXOG ÀQG out later that the stairs are easier to climb down than up.) Once on the trail, I wound my way along a ridge that overlooks a ravine. In a couple places I had to step over large

fallen tree limbs or bend some overhanging branches to walk past. I enjoyed the obstacles, but I recommend good walking shoes and pants. Walking one way along the trail took me about 20 minutes, and I was surprised when it was over. The trail descends 240 feet into the ravine and then runs into moderate Trail 4, which loops back to the campground. You can also pick up Trail 7, one of the park’s most popular hikes, which circles Ogle Lake. For similar “rugged� adventures, check out Trails 9 and 10.

- Nicole Krasean

FROM MY NECK OF THE WOODS 812 got the chance to interview one of Brown County’s skittery residents, the white-tailed deer. “Don’t be deceived by my mild manner. I can tear up a forest when I’m hungry.�

“My head’s starting to itch. I think I might shed my antlers any day now.�

“Many decades ago, humans hunted us here all the time. It was scary.�

44 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

´:H OLNH WR HDW Ă RZHUV grass and other leafy things. I can eat 15 to 20 pounds of food a day.â€?

Illustration by Taylor Ostrum

“My partner is expecting twin fawns soon. Our last one weighed almost eight pounds.�

Story by Nicole Krasean

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! We explored the oldest, biggest and most beloved parks of Southern Indiana, but 812 didn’t stop there. Here are six up-and-coming parks for you to visit. All photos are courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Lincoln State Park

If you like Spring Mill, visit Lincoln State Park In the rugged woods of Southern Indiana, our 16th president found his roots. And some remain. Abraham Lincoln’s sister 6DUDK LV EXULHG LQ /LWWOH 3LJHRQ &HPHWHU\ The park houses 10 miles of hiking trails, traditional campsites amd Lake Lincoln and Blue Heron Family Cabins. In Lincoln’s words, “The very spot where grew the bread that formed my bones, I see. How VWUDQJH ROG Ă€HOG RQ WKHH WR WUHDG $QG feel I’m part of thee.â€?

Harmonie State Park

If you like McCormick’s Creek, visit Charlestown State Park

If you like McCormick’s Creek, visit Harmonie State Park

One of the newest parks, Charlestown has a lot to give. Covering 5,118-acres, it’s the state’s third largest park. Hidden here is an abandoned amusement park destroyed E\ D à RRG LQ :KDW RQFH DWWUDFWHG crowds with its roller coasters and caged lions now takes visitors back to nature. Climb rock outcroppings or follow a ravine to scenic Fourteenmile Creek.

Hike through woods, wade through VWUHDPV DQG OHW +DUPRQLH 6WDWH 3DUN FRQsume you. Called a “trail lover’s paradiseâ€? by the DNR, the park has about 20 miles of hiking paths. Home to two short-lived utopian communities, the area is rich with history. Go for a swim, camp under the VWDUV RU Ă€VK LQ WKH :DEDVK 5LYHU

If you like Brown County, visit O’Bannon Woods State Park Nestled in the 24,000-acre HarrisonCrawford State Forest, O’Bannon Woods is known for its caves, wooded trails and KLVWRU\ 9LVLW D SLRQHHU IDUPVWHDG HTXLSSHG with a blacksmith shop, a summer kitchen and a hay press. The woods are also home to Wyandotte Cave. The natural landmark is more than nine miles in length and is home to 135-foot Monument Mountain, the tallest cave formation of its kind.

Versailles State Park

If you like Clifty Falls, visit Versailles State Park Indiana’s second-largest state park is known for its steep hills, 230-acre lake and twisting creeks. Trot along equestrian trails or tackle the bike trails for a challenge. /RRNLQJ IRU ÀVK" 9HUVDLOOHV /DNH LV IXOO RI them. Charlestown State Park

If you like Clifty Falls, visit Falls of the Ohio State Park

O’Bannon Woods State Park

“Imagine yourself dry snorkeling,� says paleontologist Alan Goldstein of the upper fossil beds along the banks of the Ohio River. About 400 million years ago, a tropical sea covered the park. Creatures living in the sea became fossilized and are visible today. Goldstein advises visitors who want to see a fossil to pour water on the beds and scrub. “If the rock is clean, fossils stick out like crazy,� Goldstein says.

45 Falls of the Ohio State Park

- Kaitlyn McMahon, Haley Church and Paige Hutson

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

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Forgotten Firebrand By Holly Dodds

46 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

His road to victory was a literal one. In an age where campaigning was virtually nonexistent, Jonathan Jennings knew exactly what he was doing as he walked onto David Reese’s Dearborn County farm that fall day in 1809. At the age of 25, he was a little-known anti-slavery candidate to Congress from the Indiana Territory. The day before, his opponent, Thomas Randolph, had visited the same farm. Randolph was 38, of 9LUJLQLDQ GHVFHQW DQG IULHQGV ZLWK the Territory’s governor, William Henry Harrison. Randolph had rode in on horseback while the men were working. He’d waited XQWLO WKH PHQ Ă€QLVKHG DQG WKHQ proceeded to share his political aspirations. Jennings, a government clerk IURP 9LQFHQQHV ZLWK QR IDPLO\ pedigree, had a different approach. “Send a boy up with my horse, and I’ll help,â€? he told the men. He KHOSHG WKHP Ă€QLVK WKH GD\¡V ZRUN

told them why Indiana should become a non-slave state and even played sports with them. Shrewdly, Jennings always let the other men win. “Wherever Jennings goes, he draws all men to him,â€? an opponent would later complain. That fall, the underdog populist won the election to Congress with 428 votes to Randolph’s 402. Jennings’ political career had begun. Jennings would go on to shape the new state’s constitution in DQG VHUYH DV ,QGLDQD¡V Ă€UVW governor. Sometimes called our ´Ă€UVW SURIHVVLRQDO SROLWLFLDQ Âľ he would topple the aristocratic powers that controlled the territory and lead the movement to keep Indiana a non-slavery state. Yet just 25 years after his surprise victory in Dearborn County, Jennings would lie only a few miles away in an unmarked grave.

47 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

A populist champion Southern Indiana in 1816 was a region in transition. Native Americans who had clashed with white settlers for years had EHHQ NLOOHG GULYHQ RXW RU FRQĂ€QHG WR reservations. The War of 1812 had ended, and bustling river towns like Madison, -HIIHUVRQYLOOH DQG (YDQVYLOOH ZHOFRPHG thousands of new settlers sweeping in IURP WKH (DVW DQG 6RXWK Some, like Abraham Lincoln and his father, Thomas, settled near the Ohio River. Others moved deeper into the hills, carving small farms out of the dense virgin IRUHVW 0DVVLYH KHUGV RI GHHU DQG Ă RFNV RI wild turkeys fed these hardy pioneers until their farms began producing vegetables for the table and corn to be shipped down the Ohio. The work was hard, but no one starved. With these settlers, especially those from the South, came a patriarchal family VWUXFWXUH D Ă€HUFH DOOHJLDQFH WR WUDGLWLRQ and a zeal for personal liberty that James Madison, author of Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana, says “drifted toward libertarianism.â€? The territory had been governed since 1801 by William Henry Harrison at his HOHJDQW *URXVHODQG HVWDWH LQ 9LQFHQQHV Harrison and his appointed successor, 7KRPDV 3RVH\ defended slavery and cautioned against rushing into statehood, fearing bigger government and higher taxes. %XW WKH UXJJHG LQGLYLGXDOLVWV Ă RRGLQJ into the southeastern region of the territory found a champion in Jennings, an ambitious law clerk who broke with 9LQFHQQHV WR VHHN RXW WKRVH ZKR VKDUHG his populist views – and who might support his rise to political power.

In the hot and humid summer of 1816, Jennings led the delegation that hammered out Indiana’s constitution at the new statehouse in Corydon. /Photo by Holly Dodds

EHFDPH D ODZ FOHUN IRU 1DWKDQLHO (ZLQJ He was just 22 and missed his family. He often wrote letters, especially to his sister, Anna, and his brother-in-law David G. Mitchell. “Believe me, that I desire your happiness as well, and equally with my own. You are dear to me Sir, not only because you possess a generous and independent mind, but likewise you are dear to her who has always been the tender object of my heart,â€? he wrote. Randy Mills, author of Jonathan Jennings: Indiana’s First Governor, says the separation was hard for Jennings. “He was abandoned on the frontier, and he was close with his brothers and sisters.â€? That sense of loneliness is a human condition that transcends time, Mills says. 9LQFHQQHV KDG EHFRPH D KXE WR )UHQFK settlers and was dominated by Harrison and his supporters, many of whom were pro-slavery. “The place is full of rascals,â€? wrote Jennings to his brother-in-law, Mitchell. One man in particular irritated him. Henry Hurst, the clerk of the General Court of the Indiana Territory, questioned Jennings’ honesty. Rather than let the insult slide, Jennings challenged him to a duel. It’s uncertain if the duel ever took place, but Jennings later wrote Mitchell that he might have to kill Hurst to get the man to leave him alone. -HQQLQJV GLVOLNHG 9LQFHQQHV ZKHUH KH IDFHG WKH Ă€UVW RI PDQ\ Ă€QDQFLDO VHWEDFNV and saw new political opportunity for his political career in Jeffersonville, a river

“This place is full of rascals.�

The journey west

48 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Jennings was born in New Jersey in DQG JUHZ XS ZLWK ÀYH EURWKHUV DQG two sisters in a large, close-knit family. His mother was the well-educated daughter of a minister, and his father was a physician, who, in the same year Jennings was born, became a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. When Jennings was 6, his family PRYHG WR ZHVWHUQ 3HQQV\OYDQLD ZKHUH KH was homeschooled on their farm. Later, he studied Latin, Greek, mathematics and, eventually, law. In 1806, he traveled to Steubenville, Ohio, where his brother 2EDGLDK KDG HVWDEOLVKHG D ODZ RIÀFH Lured by stories of opportunity in the ZHVW -HQQLQJV PDGH KLV ZD\ WR 9LQFHQQHV the capital of the territory, where he

town he thought might become the new state’s capital.

Shaping a state After Jennings’ upset victory in 1809, he served in Congress for six years as the territory moved towards statehood. Concerns about taxes and big government lingered, but whether the new state would allow or ban slavery was the incendiary issue of the time. Jennings’ anti-slavery stance was at least partly pragmatic. Madison says the territory at the time was agrarian, and most settlers earned their living through farming. “One of the reasons Jennings and the others were opposed to slavery was because they didn’t want African Americans in Indiana,â€? he says. “They did not want to have to compete with slave labor.â€? While this debate continued, Jennings’ life changed in another fundamental way. On August 8, 1811, he married Ann Hay of Charlestown. She became his loyal companion and rode on horseback with him to Washington for his second term in Congress. She often traveled alongside him as he campaigned. As personable as Jennings, Ann visited the homes of the sick when malaria was spreading in the region. Later, when -HQQLQJV¡ EURWKHU (EHQH]HU GLHG $QQ ZKR never had children of her own, took in their 10-year-old son Jacob. He grew up to study law and work alongside his uncle. But Jennings’ contentment at home still gave way to bouts of discouragement in politics. He sometimes drank too much. “I shall be happy soon to enjoy the balance of my time in a retirement where

neither poverty or riches, good or bad fame shall be able to disturb, improperly, my retreat,â€? he wrote his brother-in-law. “To be contented is my greatest ambition.â€? Congress approved Indiana’s petition for statehood in 1815, and a constitutional convention was scheduled to begin in May 1816 in Corydon, the territory’s new capital. The town was made up of dirt roads and few buildings. The statehouse was a simple, square, 40-foot-tall building constructed of limestone from nearby quarries and logs cut from virgin forests. (DFK FRXQW\ HOHFWHG GHOHJDWHV DQG Jennings presided over the convention of 43 men charged with forging a constitution. Due to the sweltering heat, they often convened beneath a giant elm tree, which became known as the &RQVWLWXWLRQDO (OP 9LVLWRUV WRGD\ FDQ still see the trunk, which is preserved as a landmark. The Constitution of 1816 began with a preamble and bill of rights, which included the concept of “all men are born equally free and independent.â€? The issue of slavery was decided once and for all. The delegates agreed that “no alteration of this constitution shall ever take place so as to include slavery or involuntary servitude.â€? Yet still, white male citizens over the age of 21 were the only ones permitted to vote. The constitution also encouraged education reform. Jennings promoted the idea of a state university where tuition would be free, Madison says. “Those notions of democracy came from Jennings and the people around him.â€? Within weeks, a search for the state’s Ă€UVW JRYHUQRU FRPPHQFHG DQG WZR PHQ went head-to-head. Running against Jennings was the former territorial JRYHUQRU 7KRPDV 3RVH\ +DUULVRQ¡V KDQG picked candidate. 3RVH\ PLJKW KDYH JLYHQ -HQQLQJV D UXQ for his money, but he was ill and unable to campaign. So Jennings was elected ,QGLDQD¡V Ă€UVW JRYHUQRU DW WKH DJH RI with a 5,211 to 3,934 vote.

improvements to roads and waterways. But governing a state proved to be less rewarding fro him than creating one. “Once they wrote that 1816 Constitution, the basic framework was laid down,â€? Madison says. “I don’t think what he does after he becomes governor is as VLJQLĂ€FDQW DV ZKDW KH GRHV EHIRUH Âľ 7KDW VHQWLPHQW LV UHĂ HFWHG LQ D OHWWHU WR KLV EURWKHU LQ ODZ ´, KROG DQ RIĂ€FH considered honorable, but I know it to be capable of yielding but little satisfaction,â€? he wrote. After completing two terms, Jennings OHIW KLV RIĂ€FH DV JRYHUQRU DQG ZHQW RQ WR serve in Congress another eight years.

A lifelong battle lost After the death of his wife Ann in 1826, Jennings’ long-time drinking problem became notably worse. Biographer Mills has a special empathy for Jennings’ addiction. Mills’ own son died of alcoholism years ago. “I see Jennings go through the same stages I saw my son go through,â€? he said. Alcoholism wasn’t a disease back then, 0LOOV VDLG ,W ZDV D FKDUDFWHU Ă DZ $V KLV drinking continued and his debt grew bigger, his friends drifted away. Jennings lost his seat in Congress in

1830 and returned to Charlestown. One day, so the story goes, two men passed by an inebriated Jennings as he leaned up against a tree. After overhearing one of them say he was the former governor, Jennings replied, “Yes, a pretty governor. He can’t even govern himself.� Jennings died on his farm just outside Charlestown on July 26, 1834, at the age of 50. All his savings were spent repaying his debts. The man who shaped the 19th state was buried in an unmarked grave.

A legacy for Indiana It took nearly 60 years for Jennings to earn his name back. In 1892, the State Legislature approved $500 to move his body to Charlestown Cemetery and erect a modest monument on his behalf. The gravestone still stands. Today, two schools bear the name of the man who championed public HGXFDWLRQ -RQDWKDQ -HQQLQJV (OHPHQWDU\ in Charlestown and Jonathan Jennings School 109 in Indianapolis. Nineteenth-century biographer John H.B. Nowland wrote that we might not remember Jennings’ kindness or gentlemanly qualities. “But his integrity, WKH KRQHVW GLVFKDUJH RI HYHU\ RIĂ€FLDO GXW\ entrusted to him, should not be forgotten.â€?

The politics of statehood At the Legislative Assembly on November 7, 1816, Jennings delivered his Ă€UVW PHVVDJH WR WKH QHZ VWDWH +LV PDLQ concerns included proper schooling and for protection and freedom for persons of color. “They were of the people. They were for the people, for ordinary people,â€? Madison says. “And they weren’t enthusiastic about wealthy know-it-alls.â€? A month later, on December 11, 1816, Indiana became America’s 19th state. As governor, Jennings continued his push for public schools and justice for all citizens. He helped develop a plan for

49 7KH RQFH VSUDZOLQJ &RQVWLWXWLRQ (OP LQ &RU\GRQ VKDGHG WKH GHOHJDWLRQ OHG E\ -HQQLQJV WKDW VKDSHG ,QGLDQDĹ?V Ć“UVW JRYHUQPHQW 3KRWR E\ +ROO\ 'RGGV

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

THE 812 LIST

What we’re reading 812 asked these well-known Hoosiers for their favorite books By Haley Church You’re on a quest for your next reading adventure, but Amazon reviews just aren’t cutting it. Why not look to recommendations from prominent readers in our region? We asked eight notable Hoosiers to share their favorite books and tell us why we should read them.

1

ROBBY BENSON Actor, director, voice of the Beast in Disney’s classic “Beauty and the Beast� and professor at Indiana University. Book: The Naked and the Dead, by Norman Mailer. An acclaimed novel that follows a platoon of soldiers battling the Japanese in World War II Genre: Fiction Why read it? “It was a book that changed my life when I was barely a teenager.�

4

PHILIP GULLEY Quaker pastor, author of the Harmony novels and If the Church Were Christian Book: The Letters of E.B. White. The personal letters of the author of classics Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little and The (OHPHQW RI 6W\OH Genre: 1RQĂ€FWLRQ Why read it? “Can you imagine the fun of reading someone’s personal mail!â€?

5 EVA KOR

Author of Surviving the Angel of Death and Holocaust survivor Book: In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer, by Irene Gut Opdyke. A gripping story of one young woman’s courage in WWII. Genre: Autobiography Why read it? “It is a well-told story of FRXUDJH VDFULĂ€FH DQG ORYH Âľ

7

Photo courtesy of Michelle Litvin

ADRIAN MATEJKA 3XOLW]HU 3UL]H ÀQDOLVW DXWKRU DQG ,8 professor Book: Coming Through Slaughter, by Michael Ondaatje. A historical novel that brings the New Orleans jazz era to life. Genre: Fictionalized biography

2

Why read it? “The book is a hybrid novel that explores the mythology of the jazz cornet player Buddy Bolden in some of the most elegant and musical language I’ve ever read.�

Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

Book: The Noticer, by Andy Andrews. A mysterious visitor to Orange Beach, Alabama, offers a little perspective on turmoil and trying times. Genre: Fiction

Why read it? “Great and easy read!�

MICHAEL KORYTA Bestselling author of suspense novels, including Those Who Wish Me Dead

50

Book: The Son E\ 3KLOOLS 0H\HU $ WDOH of the American West and the battle for power and land from the 1800s to the early 20th century. Genre: Fiction

WINTER/ SPRING 2016

Why read it? “A dark and brutal tale of Texas that moves across generations, beautifully written.�

8

SCOTT RUSSELL SANDERS

CODY ZELLER

Author, storyteller and professor emeritus at Indiana University

Former IU basketball star, now an NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets

6

Photo courtesy of Florence Henderson

FLORENCE HENDERSON Actress who played Carol Brady in “The Brady Bunch,� author and philanthropist Book: Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt. A powerful memoir of an Irish immigrant’s survival in Brooklyn during the Depression. Genre: Autobiography Why read it? “A lot of my heritage is Irish, and his book touched me very deeply.�

Book: Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, edited by Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael Nelson. A collection of essays on the conservation of the planet. Genre: 1RQĂ€FWLRQ Why read it? It “gathers testimony from more than 80 writers, theologians, naturalists and scientists to call for addressing climate disruption, species extinction and other forms of environmental degradation that endanger humankind and our fellow species.â€?

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WINTER/ SPRING 2016

FIDELITY? FORGET ABOUT IT!

Così fan tutte WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

FEB 5, 6, 12, 13 at 7:30PM | Musical Arts Center OPERA’S FAVORITE BAD GIRL

Carmen GEORGES BIZET

FEB 26, 27, MAR 4, 5 at 7:30PM | Musical Arts Center

Spring Ballet FOUR FACES OF BALANCHINE RAYMONDA VARIATIONS | TARANTELLA ELEGIE | SERENADE FOR STRINGS

MAR 25, 26 at 7:30PM | Musical Arts Center

OKLAHOMA! RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN II

APR 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30PM | APR 10 at 2PM | Musical Arts Center

52 WINTER/ SPRING 2016

15/ 16 SEASON

TICKETS: Musical Arts Center Box Office: 812-855-7433, or online at music.indiana.edu/operaballet.

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